MILLIONS of households will be hit by council tax rises of up to £99 a year from April.
Three-quarters of councils will hike the tax by 5% from April, according to the County Councils Network (CCN).
GettyMillions of households will see their council tax bill rise in April[/caption]
A 5% rise to the average Band D council tax bill would leave households £99 a year worse off.
It said that 84 councils out of 114 that have provided social care and have published their 2023/24 budget proposals plan to raise council tax by the maximum permitted which is 4.99%.
It comes after official analysis suggests that nearly all local authorities were expected to hike council tax by 5% annually over the next five years.
And around 95% of councils are expected to hike payments by the full 5% permitted, according to an analysis by the Treasury.
But councils warned at the time that rate hikes will be “extremely difficult” for struggling households while failing to plug their shortfalls.
Right now local authorities must hold local referendums if they want to increase council tax by more than 3%, but Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced in his autumn statement that he will raise this to 5% from April.
This means that local councils will be able to hike bills at a higher rate without having to consult local residents.
Sam Corcoran, Labour vice-chair of CCN, and leader of Cheshire East Council said local authorities had “little choice” but to propose increasing council tax.
He said: “With inflation reaching levels not seen for over 40 years and with demand-led pressures for care services showing no sign of abating, local authority leaders are setting their budgets in the most difficult circumstances in decades.
“We all recognise the cost-of-living crisis is impacting on every household in the country and disproportionally on low incomes, but we have little choice but to propose council tax rises again next year, with many local authorities reluctantly opting for maximum rises.”
Mel Stride, work and pensions secretary said that it is up to local councils to decide how they raise taxes.
He said: “It is for local authorities who are elected by local electors to take those decisions to try and get that balance between the pressure they’re putting on local tax payers but also making sure they’re able to continue to provide those services.”
It comes after The Sun revealed that some authorities have been given the green like to hike bills by even more than 5%.
We’ve listed the 18 locations where councils have approved bumping up rates by more than 5%.
How do I check how much my council tax bill will go up by?
Councils publish their budget plans for the 2023/24 financial year.
This will detail any council tax rises planned.
Keep an eye on your council’s website for information on this.
Check which council tax band your property falls under to work out how much the increase will cost you.
You can find your local authority by using the Gov.UK search tool.
You’ll then be sent a council tax bill in April outlining how much you need to pay.
Residents can choose to make payments over a period of 10 months.
You can also opt to pay instalments over 12 months if you prefer.
Check if you can get a council tax discount
There are a number of discounts you could get – but they will vary depending on your circumstances.
Factors such as your household income, whether you have children, and if you receive any benefits, will influence what you get.
To apply for any of the below discounts, go through the government website.
You’ll need your national insurance number, bank statements, a recent payslip or letter from the Jobcentre, and a passport or driving licence when filling out the details.
If you are not sure which local authority you live in, you can check the government’s council locator to find out.
Single people
If you live on your own, you can get 25% off your council tax bill.
This also applies if there is one adult and one student living together in a property, or if there is one adult and one person classed as severely mentally impaired in the home.
If you live with someone who doesn’t have to pay council tax, such as a carer or someone who is severely mentally impaired, you could get a larger reduction too, of up to 50%.
And, if you live in an all-student household, you could get a 100% discount.
A full list of circumstances that exempt you from paying council tax can be found on Citizens Advice.
Retirees
Pensioners may also find themselves eligible for a council tax reduction.
If you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you could get a 100% discount.
If not, you could still get help if you have a low income and less than £16,000 in savings.
And a pensioner who lives alone will be entitled to a 25% discount too.
Low-income households
If you are on a low income or receiving benefits, you could eligible for a reduction on your council tax.
Whether you are eligible will vary depending on where you live.
You could also get a deferral if you’re struggling to pay your bill, or you can speak to your council about setting up a payment plan to manage the cost.
But one thing to remember is if you are struggling you should contact your council as early as you can.